Bility Wants 8 Years at the Football House, To Fully Promote, Develop Football

                   FA Boss Musa Bility                                                                         


Written by By Leroy M. Sonpon, III
leroysonpon@yahoo.com
 (0886-585875)

 


The President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), Musa Bility, said that he is hopeful of completing his first term of four years in office at the football house, and optimistic of his reelection in 2013.


Mr. Bility indicated that he want to stay at the football house for the eight years to effusively fulfill his dream and passion for the game, by promoting and developing Liberian football.

The under-fire LFA boss, in an exclusive interview with our reporter yesterday in Monrovia boosted of making tremendous strives. He named the renovation of the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS), which include the lighting system to allow games played at night; the securing of the first- ever two-flat headquarters of the LFA for the period of four years and the restructuring of the game, which is being sponsored by Cellcom GSM Company.

The LFA boss, amongst other achievements, also named the take-over of the national football teams, owing to a successful Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed between the LFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports; the surplus of international friendly games the Lone Star of Liberia engages in, which has never been since in 20 years and the relationship he enjoys with stakeholders and the Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Some stakeholders of the game, described Mr. Bility’s achievements as “so-called,” saying that it is a “tip of iceberg” of what Mr. Bility suppose to achieve.

They claimed the LFA boss has failed and are therefore calling for his impeachment, while other vowed to not re-elect him 2013.

Kojo is in Until After February 29:

The LFA boss differed with reports that Italian coach Roberto Landi was dismissed owing to recommendation from Chief Patron of Sports Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, owing to the Lone Star of Liberia’s defeat in her present.

Mr. Bility said that immediately Liberia’s loss to Nigeria on Wednesday, Coach Landi departed Liberia, contravening the contract. “A communication to the Italian, terminating his services, highlighted his failure to live up to a cardinal portion of his contract-to spend most of his time in Liberia with the national team. The contract says Coach Landi should stay at least 15 days in the month in Liberia, which he failed to do. Landi has over time failed to meet the minimum time required with home based players and his very employers.

He said that the LFA, through the Technical Director Henry Browne, has appointed deputy coach Thomas Kojo as caretaker coach pending the recruitment of a new head coach.

Kojo is a former Liberia international player. He was a member of the Liberian team to the Mali 2002 Nations cup. Before his appointment as deputy coach, Kojo coached FC-AK in the South African league.

He will work with the rest of Landi’s deputies- Kelvin Sebwe and Janjay Jacobs-for the match against Namibia on February 29 in Monrovia.

The match is a tough 2013 Africa Nations cup qualifier and would service as the biggest test for the caretaker team.

The LFA boss maintains its policy to keep the national team head coach job in the hands of a non Liberian by appointing a new coach sooner than later.

The Italian international took over the national team last year in a two-year contract in the middle of the 2012 Nations cup qualifiers. He first served as a sit-in coach replacing ailing Hungarian Bertalan Bicskie in March of 2011.

Upon the death of coach Bicskie, Landi and the LFA entered into a two-year deal. Landi was maintained by the LFA following the elimination of the Lone star from the qualifiers amidst mounting demand from some Liberians to have him fired.

Bility Heads FIFA’s Marketing, Television Committee:

Also, in an exclusive interview with our reporter, the LFA boss boast of an amicable relationship with the FIFA President Sepp Blatter, evidence of his appointment as member of the FIFA’s Marketing and Television Advisory Board.

Bility is amongst the 16-member FIFA’s marketing and Television Advisory Board, which is clothed with the authority to advise the Executive Committee with regard to drafting and implementing contracts between FIFA and its various marketing/television partners and analyse marketing and television strategies that have been devised.

Rochell Woodson Is Not LFA’s Choice

The LFA boss further told our reporters that in the meeting with FIFA boss Sepp Blatter in Libreville, Gabon, the football house is calling for the revocation of Rochell Woodson, who was appointed as member of the FIFA’s Women Football Committee and Women World Cup.

“Rochell was not appointed properly, so we want her out…we are doing this to set principle and standard…she is not the LFA’s choice,” Mr. Bility said.

Nevertheless, some stakeholders and football fans are calling on the LFA to be nationalistic and leave Ms. Woodson alone. “We all are Liberians, let the LFA or Mr. Bility leave her alone….for the sake of reconciliation and the country,” Dennis Dunbar, a football fan said.